The devastating crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12, minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad, has focused investigators’ attention on the aircraft’s right-side engine. According to sources quoted by Business Today, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had the engine overhauled and reinstalled in March 2025 — just three months before the fatal incident.
The nearly 12-year-old aircraft last underwent a major maintenance check in June 2023, with its next due in December 2025. Tragically, the crash claimed the lives of nearly 270 people, including 241 passengers, making it India’s deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade. The aircraft crashed into a medical hostel building in Meghani Nagar. A British national was the sole survivor.
Preliminary investigations and data from the flight data recorder have raised concerns about a possible engine failure. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a one-time safety check of all Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Air India’s fleet.
As of now, safety inspections have been completed on nine of Air India’s 33 Dreamliners. The remaining aircraft are being inspected as they return from operations. “Air India is on track to complete this process within the DGCA’s timeline,” the airline said in a statement, warning of possible operational delays on long-haul routes due to night curfews.
Financially, the crash is likely to result in one of the largest aviation insurance claims in Indian history, with estimates reaching Rs 3,000 crore. Notably, Air India had recently increased the insurance cover on the aircraft from Rs 750 crore to Rs 850 crore — just two months prior to the crash.
In terms of support to victims’ families, Tata Sons had earlier announced Rs 1 crore as compensation for each deceased victim. Air India has now added an interim relief of Rs 25 lakh per victim’s family and for the sole survivor.